Kenya votes in new constitution, early results show
Kenyan voters have approved a new constitution, according to preliminary results released Thursday, with almost 70% in favor. Leaders of the anti-constitution camp conceded defeat before the final result, expected to be announced by the Interim Independent Electoral Commission late Thursday.
According to the preliminary results, about 5.2 million of the country’s 12.7 million voters voted in favor of the constitution, which proponents said could end decades of poor governance and corruption, and 2.3 million opposed the draft. Ninety-two of the 210 constituencies had been counted.
William Ruto, minister of higher education, one of the main opponents of the draft, said the “no” camp accepted the result. But he said the constitution had not passed by an overwhelming majority and called on government leaders who pushed the draft to meet with its opponents to amend the most contentious issues and bring more Kenyans on board.
